November celebrates Book Week Scotland between Monday 21st – Sunday 27th November.  This month’s ’50 Word Fiction’ from the Scottish Book Trust ties in with these celebrations. This month’s stimulus is a great opportunity for learners to pen a piece of fiction of no more than 50 words on the subject of ‘a powerful book’.

This could be a favourite book, a class novel or perhaps something you’re developing with the First Minister’s Reading Challenge.

The deadline is Wednesday 30th November 2016. The Young Writers category is open to all children and young people under 18.

CLICK HERE – 50 Word Fiction (Powerful Book)

On a visit to Marybank Primary School this week a great resource to develop Pre-Handwriting Skills was shared.

The Finger Training resource from Youcubed is a great resource to support the development of pre-writing and hand/eye co-ordination.

CLICK HERE to download: Finger Training

The resource includes a number of finger activities which are not only beneficial for pre-handwriting but also for visual mathematics.

The resource suggests using coloured dots; however, in Marybank they were using plastic rings instead so that these can be reused. These activities really get the children thinking!

The development of hand/eye co-ordination is crucial to the writing process. This is a great way to support the development of this!

This document has been updated since its initial launch in 2014, making explicit reference to the recent developments in Emerging Literacy and to the benchmarks from Education Scotland.

When shaping our “Literacy Week” in our classrooms we encompass a wide variety of skills through reading, writing and listening and talking activities.

Many schools and practitioners have developed structures based on an amalgamation of previous Highland guidance, school resources and commercial materials.

The ‘Structuring Your Literacy Programme’ document is one structure which you may find useful to support you in developing discreet literacy teaching within the primary classroom.

CLICK HERE Highland Literacy – Structuring your Literacy Programme

Next week Monday 7th November-Friday 11th November is:
World Nursery Rhyme week.

We know when developing phonological awareness that strengthening rhyme awareness will support the development of rhyme production.

Get your children involved next week with the free resources available from Music Bug.

CLICK HERE for World Nursery Rhyme Week Information

“Rhyme a Day Challenge” songs for 2016

• Monday 7th November – “Doctor Foster”.
• Tuesday 8th November – “Baa Baa Black Sheep”.
• Wednesday 9th November – “Two Little Dickie Birds”.
• Thursday 10th November  – “Incy Wincy Spider”.
• Friday 11th November – “Hey Diddle Diddle”

CLICK HERE to register and access FREE resources

NessBookFest is coming to Inverness between the 10th and 12th of November. There are a number of events available which are ideal for children and young people – a great opportunity to support children and young people’s awareness of live literature.

For more information about NessBookFest and the events which are taking place CLICK HERE to access the programme of events.

CLICK HERE for ticket and booking information

If you missed it, CLICK HERE for the August 2016 Emerging Literacy Update

The October 2016 Emerging Literacy update includes information on:

• Highland Emerging Literacy Local Networks
• Primary 1 Bookbug Pack
• Pre-Handwriting
• Recent Blog Posts
• Education, Children and Adult Services Committee

CLICK HERE to download the October 2016 Emerging Literacy update.

When develop learners’ pre-handwriting skills there are a number of resources that can be used to support fine motor development through the use of the Pre-Handwriting resources.

We know it’s also extremely important to develop gross motor movements. The Infinity Walk is one task which can develop this – perfect for a writing warm up exercise. Check out the videos below from John Murray, Occupational Therapist.

A great activity which can be developed both indoors and outdoors.

Many schools across Highland develop The Highland Clearances as a ‘Historical Context’ using the Highland Council Social Studies Progression. With newly released children’s bestseller, Fir for Luck, from Highland author Barbara Henderson, it’s a great opportunity to build an Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL) context around the text to develop Literacy and Social Studies through The Highland Clearances.

The novel offers a fresh insight into 19th century events in Sutherland. Henderson’s Fir for Luck is told in present tense and from a child’s point of view. Fast-paced, based on true events, and with a feisty main character, the novel is designed to feel accessible to a modern audience whilst retaining vivid period detail.

Inverness-based author Barbara Henderson recently launched Fir for Luck at Crown Primary School in Inverness. She has also recently worked with Durness Primary School and has previously supported World Book Day through events such as a ‘Blind Book Date’.

Barbara is able to support schools in developing  their context with events such as:

• Live Reading workshops
• Drama workshops
• Creative Writing workshops
• Puppetry workshops

Contact Barbara on: scattyscribbler@gmail.com

Teach children between P1 and P3? Join the Scottish Book Trust on Authors Live, Thursday 27th October 2016 – 11am – 11.40am, as they dive into their hilarious picture book series, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam!

CLICK HERE – Tracey Corderoy and Steven Linton Authors Live

This is particularly great for P2 pupils as Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam is one of the books within the P2 Read, Write, Count Pack.

CLICK HERE – Read, Write, Count information for schools

Futurelearn are offering free six week online CPD on Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairytales beginning Monday 24th October 2016.

Having completed the online CPD course when it was offered last year, this is a great CPD opportunity for practitioners. The course analyses popular fairytales and looks at fairytale structures. This professional learning can then be taken back into the classroom, introducing the fairytales through both reading and writing workshops.

CLICK HERE for the fairytales which are used.

CLICK HERE – Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairytales